The movie's quality has to be there, obviously, but judging solely from the trailer...

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/walktheline.html

...Phoenix is as much a lock to walk away with an award as Jamie Foxx was. I can't believe that's really him singing, because it's uncanny. His "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash" gave me chills when I heard it. Everything from his voice to his body language IS Johnny Cash.

I also think Reese Witherspoon and director, James Mangold, will be heavy players this awards season, if all goes according to plan. I can't wait to see more. I'm hoping to see this opening day, but it comes out the day after my birthday, and I might be hungover, so hopefully there will be a sneak preview on the 11th that I can go to instead.

I think Pheonix has his nom.

I'm hoping we'll see the breakout Reece, we know she's in there.

Those two nominations, unless there is little success in the other films or an overwhelming quality I think it won't get as much love as Ray did.

Yeah, right now for sure, it's capable of pulling a What's Love Got To Do With It? Two leads nominated for Oscars.

I think Joaquin is a lock and Reese is close. I think they'll go for lead with her. James Mangold is one of those guys that seems pretty consistent in what he does but has never quite had a breakthrough. It's possible he could get a director nod, but only if this gets nominated for best picture.

Even some of the supporting cast could get nominated if this is big enough, depending on who stands out, but not likely. This may be my most anticipated film of the year.

Phoenix will get a nom,Reese will not.Phoenix looks more impressive than Fox because he actually sange those songs while fox did not.

Jamie Foxx didn't sing those songs? I thought he did. Hes been in music videos before, and he sings Ray-style in Kanye Wests new video. And he performed at the Grammys.

I thought that Foxx did sing the songs?

No, that was Ray Charles. I do believe Foxx sang when it showed him rehearsing stuff, but when it full music, it was Ray Charles.

wow, i didn't know that. interesting....

And by the way I think Joaquin has his nom, and Reese Witherspoon has hers too. She looks impressive.

You know, it can do Best Picture. To me it looks more elevated than Ray, might be the best movie period of 2005. Its got alot of spirit. It could even sweep the big 4, Actor Actress Director and Picture. James Mangold for Director is the weak link. He hasn't *really* proved himself all that much. As good as I thought Girl Interuppted was, his direction was criticized. But I think he'll get a nom.

The first review is up at Rotten Tomatoes and it's positive. It's from Emanuel Levy and he gave it a B+. He also said Reese was a revelation and that she should earn a Best Actress Oscar nomination.

woohooo...Reese will definitely get a nomination. Popular actress playing a celebrity that died in recent years = lock IMO.

According to IMDB, Reese Witherspoon sang all of Carter's vocals for the film herself. That locks her nom up along with Phoenix.

Even if she didn't sing, her speaking and movement in the trailer as June is magnificent. She would get one anyways.

Oscar prospects for Walk The Line?

David Poland Says......http://www.mcnblogs.com/festivals/archives/2005/09/walk_the_line.html#more......looks pretty good.

Hmmm. From an acting point its great! Though I think the Academy is getting to the point where they realize acting, not singing, is the icing. Look at Ray. Its ok, and almost as hard to be convincingly not singing as singing. We've come a long way since Hepburn in Lady.

But their singing certainly shows how much they invested in background work for this movie. And it'll be rewarded.

I'm really curious to hear how she sounds, and to hear them duet. Just from the trailer, I'd say that Sissy Spacek's performance in Coal Miner's Daughter was an influence on Reese. She talked and sang just like Lorretta Lynn, and it's one of the biggest travesties in the history of the Oscars that she didn't win that year. (I can't even remember who did)

I do think that they look at the actors doing their own singing as a serious investment in the work, as well as very gutsy.

Sissy Spacek did win for Coal Miner's Daughter.

SS did win the Oscar ( think it was 1980)

To mention another Oscar nomination for a precedent, not Win though, Bette Midler for The Rose in about 1990 ( Janis Joplin )

She did? Why is that not registering with me?

Question - Will last year's Ray / Jamie Foxx win have any effect on this year's Walk the Line.

Either for the nomination or later for an Oscar win? Any effect?

No. I don't think so.

A good performance is a good performance, it will be hard to ignore.

I didn't realize how good reviews the film is getting until I checked. Poland, Levy, Ebert, Time, Newsweek, and Rolling Stone are all raves. This is moving up very fast on my anticipated list. The acting nominations are locks, and if things keep up, both leads will walk away with the win.

You can add Variety to that list as well.

Variety

I'm thinking Reese might be a higher regarded frontrunner than him. The reviews are more tilted to her, though they praise both. Oscars galore!